Sorting through the shrapnel: what Dominic Cummings’ grenade-ridden riposte means
In an explosive blog post, PM s former adviser denied leaking – and then returned fire. Here, we examine the claims in the briefing war
23 April 2021 • 9:37pm
Dominic Cummings said it was sad to see the PM and his office fall so far below the standards of competence and integrity the country deserves
Credit: Hollie Adams /Bloomberg
In a blog posted on Friday evening, Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s former de facto chief of staff, fired off an extraordinary salvo in response to a Downing Street briefing that he was the source of a series of leaks that had seriously undermined the Prime Minister. And then he lobbed in a grenade. Or two.
Politics latest news: Boris Johnson s Dyson texts to be published today, amid row over Cummings role in leaks Cat Neilan
Boris Johnson has said his communications with billionaire Sir James Dyson will be published today , as Number 10 sources blamed Dominic Cummings for the leaks.
The Prime Minister, who had told Ian Blackford that he would publish all the details on Wednesday, did not comment on allegations that his former adviser was in the frame for having briefed journalists about his correspondence with the tech entrepreneur, and separately with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
He told journalists: If you think that there s anything remotely dodgy or rum or weird or sleazy about trying to secure more ventilators at a time of a national pandemic and doing everything in your power to do that, then I think you are out of your mind.
Perhaps it was that power that so threatened Boris real-life partner Carrie Symonds, who hated Dom s sheer force of personality and his ability to ruffle feathers and control her fiancé.
After all, as a former Tory spin doctor herself, why the heck did Boris need this madman taking the reins?
Especially after the palaver of THAT trip Barnard Castle at the height of the pandemic where Boris expended what little political capital he had left at the time to save Dom s job, at what felt like any cost.
But Dom and Boris divided, as they are now, is a political horror story. Toxic and immature, they seem to be trying to tear each other apart. It s a battle that does neither side any good.
Downing Street source blamed Dominic Cummings for the leaking of PM s texts
Government has launched internal inquiry into how the Dyson messages leaked
No10 source pointed the finger at Mr Cummings who quit government last year
Tory MPs fear that a briefing war could result in mutually assured destruction
They also warned Mr Johnson has got a lot more to lose than his former aide